The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Just 20 years ago in Spokane, on Decem­ber 18, 1983, Mariah Jean Persis Hofer was born. She was baptized at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Spokane De­cember 22, 1995. Mariah passed away in Waitsburg at the home of her parents, Cindy and Gary Hofer, on January 14, 2014.

She was preceded in death by Grandfathers Glen Hofer and Clar­ence “Dick” Bishop some years ago, and Grand­mother Aggie Bishop of Spokane just weeks ago in early December.

As a young girl Mari­ah brought much joy to many. Her smile was legendary. Her talents included singing, danc­ing, and athletic abilities including team sports, ice skating and horse­back riding. She attended Saint Patrick Kindergar­ten in Spokane and then Waitsburg schools. She received her high school diploma on December 9, 2011 through Walla Walla Community Col­lege. Later, she attended college there, studying Viticulture and Enology. In recent months she had been happily employed at Dayton Mercantile, anticipating returning to college soon.

Aside from her inter­ests in sports, ‘Riah was politically active, present­ing testimony on various bills to advocate greater rights for children in fos­ter and or kinship care.

In addition to her par­ents, Gary and Cindy Hofer at home in Waits­burg, she is survived by grandmothers Ginger Hofer and Hazel Bishop, grandfather Ron Bishop, known to her as “Uncle Grandpa Tyke” (Kateri), brothers Ansehl, Mans (Tish) and Gabriel Hofer (also her Godfather), niece Kylee Hofer, and Godmother Lindarae Per­sis Watts. Other survivors include Uncles Dan Hofer & Jim Bishop, Aunts Jeannie Hofer Alcazar, Linda (Bishop) Sabie and Coleen (Bishop) Reavill Prescott. Other loving family include: the family of Ronald “Jeff” Bishop, including half-brother Jace, half-sister Adrien and her biological sister known to the family as Christiana. She was also blessed with a constel­lation of cousins: Wendi Soulia, Eric Sabie, Can­di Davis, David Reavill and Santili Alcazar. She was preceded in death by infant sister Stephany Bishop.

Mariah is buried at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Waitsburg next to her Grampa Glen.

Memorial contribu­tions may be made to the Walla Walla Figure Skating Club, Ice Chalet, YWCA 213 Birch Street, Walla Walla, Washington, 99362.